[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 14, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. RISCH:
  S. 2335. A bill to exempt certain 16- and 17-year-old children 
employed in logging or mechanized operations from child labor laws; to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, Senator Crapo and I would like to introduce 
the Youth Careers in Logging Act. Small family logging companies, much 
like family farms, rely on younger family members to help make their 
companies successful. The agriculture industry enjoys exemptions from 
child labor laws to allow for family members to learn the trade and 
carry on the family business. This bill will provide those same 
benefits for the logging industry.
  The logging industry is struggling to recruit young employees. This 
industry, like many others, has an aging work force that will soon 
retire. Modern mechanized machinery opens up opportunities for a new 
tech-savvy generation of loggers if we give them the chance.
  There are 400 independent logging contractor businesses in Idaho, 
most of which are family owned and operated. Current labor laws do not 
allow the children of these family owned businesses to work and learn 
in the same profession as their parents.
  Should the Youth Careers in Logging Act be enacted, starting at the 
age of 16 young adults will be allowed to operate safe and modern 
machinery. These young loggers will help Idaho and the country to 
create healthy, fire resilient forests and bring much needed natural 
resources into our marketplace to help make paper and build homes.
  By passing this legislation, Congress can help young adults earn good 
wages through hard work in the great outdoors that will create a 
generation of young Americans that understand the value of a great work 
ethic.
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